Cy the Cynic defines a careful driver as one who sees a driver up ahead being stopped by the police. You can’t be too careful as declarer; the problem is foreseeing what can go wrong.

At today’s 3NT, South won the first heart in dummy and led a diamond to his ace. When he took the queen next, West threw a heart.

Since South had only eight tricks — three hearts, three diamonds, two clubs — he had to lose a diamond (or a club trick) to East to set up dummy’s fifth diamond. But then East shifted to the ten of spades, and the defense took four spades. Down one.

CARELESS

We can cite South for careless driving. He is at risk only if East gets in, hence he should win the first heart in his hand and lead the deuce of diamonds. If West played low, South would take the king and ace, hoping for a 3-2 break.

When West follows with the jack on the first diamond, South safeguards his contract by playing low from dummy, passing his diamond loser to West, who can do no damage with a spade shift.

ANSWER: You have no ideal call. You have enough strength for a forward-going second bid, but neither a jump to 2NT nor a jump-preference to three clubs is attractive. Raise to two hearts, a mildly encouraging action. You would prefer four-card support to raise partner’s second suit, but strong three-card support will do in a pinch.

Tribune Content Agency (C)2016 Tribune Content Agency, LLC. “Wendy is telling everybody that I’m a few tacos short of a combination plate when I’m declarer,” Cy the Cynic told me in the club lounge. Cy, a chauvinist, and Wendy, our feminist, are always at odds. “She’s saying your dummy play is weak?” “It’s shameful,” Cy growled. “But two can play...

Tribune Content Agency (C)2016 Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Cy the Cynic and I were sitting in the club lounge when a player came over. “My partner is a CPA,” he told us. “He says trying to figure out percentage plays as declarer drives him nuts.” “When accountants go mad, do they start to hear invoices?” Cy wondered. My friend had...